GRAND RAPIDS, MI – NSF International, a global public health organization, and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) have released a new Product Category Rule (PCR) for office storage products. The PCR defines the science-based and internationally recognized method for reporting the environmental impact of office storage products such as casegoods, files, cabinets and other related products throughout their entire life cycle.

The PCR for office storage products explains how to conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) for office storage products and what to include in the resulting Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). LCAs measure inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a storage product across its lifespan, from cradle to grave. The EPD is the third-party-verified report that explains the data generated from a life cycle assessment.

The office storage PCR was developed in accordance with international environmental management guidelines (ISO 14025) through the NSF National Center for Sustainability Standards, part of NSF International’s Sustainability Division. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 recognizes the value of PCRs/EPDs and the current draft includes LEED credit language that recognizes EPDs specifically.

“The development of Product Category Rules for storage products helps meet the increasing demand for transparency in environmental claims,” explained Tom Bruursema, General Manager of NSF International’s Sustainability Division. “PCRs, LCAs and EPDs provide crucial information to help businesses and government agencies meet their greener purchasing goals and be ready for LEED.”

“We are pleased to partner with NSF International on behalf of our members to develop PCRs for the storage industry so that they may report on their cutting-edge sustainability efforts. PCRs will help move the contract furniture industry toward a more sustainable future,” said Thomas Reardon, Executive Director of BIFMA. “This PCR for office storage products is our second PCR as we previously developed one for office seating.”

Source: BIFMA/NSF